Edits and Changes to the Text of PA

The following changes were released by Rowling’s publishers in the summer of 2004. As of summer, 2005, they had not been included in Scholastic editions. However, both Bloomsbury and Raincoast editions now incorporate the changes. The translators, who work from the Bloomsbury text, are incorporating these changes into their editions of the book as well.

It wasn’t until after Goblet of Fire that Rowling worked out the exact details of the organization of the Ministry of Magic. In FB, she established the seven departments of the Ministry, and there is no Reversal Department.

“So all that remains,” said Fudge, now buttering himself a second crumpet, “is to decide where you’re going to spend the last two weeks of your holidays…” “So all that remains,” said Fudge, now buttering himself a second crumpet, “is to decide where you’re going to spend the last three weeks of your holidays…”

Aunt Marge came on Harry’s birthday and stayed for a week. When he ran away, then, there were three weeks left in August.

You know what Harry and Ron are like, wandering off by themselves — they’ve ended up in the Forbidden Forest twice! > You know what Harry and Ron are like, wandering off by themselves — they’ve even ended up in the Forbidden Forest!

While Harry has been in the Forest twice, Ron wasn’t with him during the first year, so he has only been in there once at this point.

“- and massive sherbert balls that make you levitate a few inches off the ground while you’re sucking them” > “- and massive sherbet balls that make you levitate a few inches off the ground while you’re sucking them”

They saw Lupin, Ron, and Pettigrew clambering awkwardly out of the hole in the roots. Then came Hermione… then the unconscious Snape, drifting weirdly upwards. Next came Harry and Black > They saw Lupin, Ron and Pettigrew clambering awkwardly out of the hole in the roots, followed by the unconscious Snape, drifting weirdly upwards. Next came Harry, Hermione and Black.

This corrects the order in which the party leaves the Whomping Willow to match that shown in PA20.